I believe that the most important thing for the Melbourne FC to survive is to mend the relationship with the MCC. We need every Melbourne supporter with MCC membership to join the club. In addition to this, the club needs to make some sound non football investments to ensure the club has a non-football based income going forward.

Why not think a bit outside the square and appoint a CEO for football based activities and a CFO in-charge of non-football based investments.

The club could then target someone with experience within the football industry in the role of CEO and a investment wiz in the CFO position.

I believe the prime target for CEO role should be none other than Stephen Gough. The man in charge of the MCC and the person who has the most intimate knowledge and understanding of the MCC workings and how to best exploit the financial benefits of playing home games at the MCG. Anyone agree??

stephen gough would be a great target i believe. could we get him? not sure.

not sure if you can have two CEO's though...

It is a bit too much to expect MCC members to purchase two memberships every year. The club has done the right thing by introducing the affordable associate membership. Maybe a deal could be struck with the MCC where it makes a fianncial contribution for every associate membership purchased?

As for the CEO we need somebody who can make what look like good ideas on paper actually work. Both China and team Melbourne are good initiatives but are both fragile in a lot of ways. Both need considerable corporate backing, that should be the new CEO's number one priority.

The MCC already make a considerable financial contribution to the MFC each year above and beyond what they give to any other club so I am not sure what is wrong with the relationship between MFC and MCC.

The preference of MCC members to buy or not buy a MFC membership is a matter for the individual MCC member not the MCC. It should be remembered the MCC is a broadly based membership group and has changed significantly from the days when MFC was a part of the MCC.

I have yet to see a corporate structure that works effectively beyond the corporate spin it with dual CEOs. In terms of clear responsibilities and accountabilities, I believe there should be one CEO.

I hope the Club puts in place a recruitment process for the CEO role that is as rigourous as the approach taken to appoint the Coach.

Despite the salary being bandied about in the Press, I do not believe the MFC role is a plum or lucrative job. I am concerned that regardless of who you have in the role there are significant barriers to development of MFC to a major powerhouse. Nevertheless I hope we do appoint a CEO who is brilliant at the role, committed to MFC and performs well for us over a long period of time.

Those who lok to thte MCC as any solution are indeed looking backwards.. We need the club to look forwards.

The MCC has already shown it will lay with the wolves.

The club IS putting in place a procedure.. they have appoined SLADE to headhunt potentials.. and the ydid this weeks ago..on the quiet.

This shows plaiing.. shows aptitude.. shows thoroughness and that they are directing play not other way around.

Sort of reminds you of the approach to a new coach.

for the right person this is THE job.. If you can make it in this position you will have that many stars on your belt !!!!!

It wont be for the feint hearted, but we dont want them anyway.

Reminds me a little of Agincourt... they were tired.. they were near beaten, they were hungry...they faced a far more numerous and better equipped enemy. But with a little lateral thinking and sheer guts and bravado they totally F@#KED them !!

Lesson to be learnt.. believe in yourselves.. and dont let others dictate terms.. Work to your own plan . This I believe is the new Melbourne way.. We do it our way !!

I await the oohs and ahhhs when the new CEO is announced.

Go Dees

Those who lok to thte MCC as any solution are indeed looking backwards..

[full quote removed]

As a MFC/MCC member myself I am right with Belzebub 59 when he says a new CEO must look beyond the MCC supporter base. The MFC rightly recognises that its MCC supporter base already has access to most home games and as such are making an extra donation to the club. The packages are sensibly priced accordingly, I especially like the $150.00 member + Young Demon package because it builds for the future...my godson is hooked! Thats the good news.

The bad news.

The remaining MCC members who "claim" to be MFC supporters are soft. They will probably only come if the team performs on the park, and will be slow on the uptake to boot too.

The MFC cannot be built on such a flimsy supporter base...we need more hard core supporters who will be there when its sleeting!

Thats the challenge for the new CEO, thats why she [or he] must be forward looking.

How about a demonland topic stream of 'weird and wonderful" ideas for new membership drives?

How to increase our membership?

Who said this...QUOTE..."Sales of membership for the year were .... Senior tickets and .... Juniors. It is impossible to understand why we should have such a small number of tickets sold when one considers the success that the team has enjoyed over the past years."

ANSWER 1960 Annual report page 15 finance section.

The hidden numbers were , senior 3584 and junior 856.

Last year our membership went up 3183, but of this approx 2500-3000 were MCC crossovers, while this is great it is not the way to increase our membership as there are only so many MCC members. As mentioned previously we have to look at other ways to improve our bottom line.

ANSWER.. buggered if I know! Are we all members? If not sign up..

Something I have noticed whilst wearing MFC polo tops at shopping centres and such like is the number of completely unknown strangers comment in the positive on my team choise. So the people are out there, how do we get at them?

Maybe we as members buy an ordinary childs membership as a donation to the club, who knows.

I would love to here what others think.

belzebub is right regarding not looking back to MCC members for increase in membership numbers. The underlying issue is the lack of any real tangible benefit for MCC members to buy a MFC membership other than car stickers. MFC standard approach for several decades is to always go back to those who already support the club to raise funds or seek more members.

Real solution is to braoden appeal to wider base - hard for MFC to attract interstate members in same way that Adelaide, Sydney & Brisbane will not easily attract new interstate support.

MFC has always been restricted by being based in the city compared with Geelong and some of the suburban based clubs like Essendon and Sainst who attract some "local" members. Is Why Hawks happt with Waverley base.

However the club was previously developing links with all other clubs who had the same jumpers or were demons or redlegs. This was a good concept. encouraged regional links and some supporter synergies. Had good potential for real crossover.

MFC relationship with SandyFC is another way to increase supporter base naturally over time. Clearly best association in AFL/VFL.

New CEO does need to be a sound choice with solid development capabilities and not another snake oil salesman.

Geoff Slade is a long term and passionate Demon man & is good his firm been appointed to conduct the search. Another indication of good processes being followed. Gives us confidence for a good outcome.

belzebub is right regarding not looking back to MCC members for increase in membership numbers. The underlying issue is the lack of any real tangible benefit for MCC members to buy a MFC membership other than car stickers. MFC standard approach for several decades is to always go back to those who already support the club to raise funds or seek more members.

Real solution is to braoden appeal to wider base - hard for MFC to attract interstate members in same way that Adelaide, Sydney & Brisbane will not easily attract new interstate support.

MFC has always been restricted by being based in the city compared with Geelong and some of the suburban based clubs like Essendon and Sainst who attract some "local" members. Is Why Hawks happt with Waverley base.

However the club was previously developing links with all other clubs who had the same jumpers or were demons or redlegs. This was a good concept. encouraged regional links and some supporter synergies. Had good potential for real crossover.

MFC relationship with SandyFC is another way to increase supporter base naturally over time. Clearly best association in AFL/VFL.

New CEO does need to be a sound choice with solid development capabilities and not another snake oil salesman.

Geoff Slade is a long term and passionate Demon man & is good his firm been appointed to conduct the search. Another indication of good processes being followed. Gives us confidence for a good outcome.

solution is to braoden appeal to wider base - hard for MFC to attract interstate members in same way that Adelaide, Sydney & Brisbane will not easily attract new interstate support.

We have to be able to make something out of the 'Red and Blue Army' concept which is being developed for our 150th. The Club is endeavouring to contact all MFC supporters (not just members) to join the 'Army' for the celebrations on the Queen's B'day weekend. Just having the name and contact details of non-member supporters has to be a good starting point for increrasing the membership base. Of course, it is critical for existing members to play their part by providing names of non-member fans.